Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) – Foundation for social democracy!
About us
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is the oldest political foundation in Germany with a rich tradition in social democracy dating back to its foundation in 1925. The foundation owes its formation and its mission to the political legacy of its namesake Friedrich Ebert, the first democratically elected German President.
The work of our political foundation focuses on the core ideas and values of social democracy – freedom, justice and solidarity. This connects us to social democracy and free trade unions. As a non-profit institution, we organise our work autonomously and independently.
Our goals
We promote
- a free society, based on the values of solidarity, which offers all its citizens the same opportunities to participate on political, economic, social and cultural levels, regardless of their origin, sex or religion
- a lively and strong democracy; sustainable economic growth with decent work for all
- a welfare state that provides more education and improved healthcare, but at the same time combats poverty and provides protection against the challenges that life throws at citizens
- a country that is responsible for peace and social progress in Europe and in the world.
What we do
We support and strengthen social democracy in particular by means of:
- Political educational work to strengthen the civil society. Our political education programs in Germany motivate, enable, inform and qualify citizens to successfully engage in political, trade union and civil spheres. We improve citizens’ participation in social discussions and decision-making processes.
- Think Tanks: We develop strategies on the core issues of economic, social and educational policies as well as on key issues that advance democracy. At the crossroad where think tanks, academia and political practitioners meet, we create a public discourse for a just and sustainable economic and social order on a national, European and worldwide level
- International cooperation: With our international network of offices in more than 100 countries, we support a policy for peaceful cooperation and human rights, promote the establishment and consolidation of democratic, social and constitutional structures and are pioneers for free trade unions and a strong civil society. We are actively involved in promoting a social, democratic and competitive Europe in the European integration process.
- Support for talented young people with scholarship programs, in particular for students and doctoral candidates from low-income families or with a migrant background. This is our contribution to increasing educational democracy.
- The collective memory of social democracy: Our archive, library and contemporary history projects keep the historical roots of social democracy and the trade unions alive and provide support for sociopolitical and historical research.
Facts & Figures
Staff
A total of 595 employees in the offices in Bonn and the sixteen State and regional offices and abroad (2018).
Budget
Approx. 194.6 million Euro, mainly public funding (2018).
Events
In Germany alone more than 140,000 persons took part in educational courses, discussion forums and special-subject conferences (2018).
International Cooperation
Activities in 107 countries (2018).
Scholarships
2,876 students received a scholarship, 286 of them from abroad (2018).
Library
Largest specialized library on the German and international labour movement with over 1.000.000 volumes. Largest collection of documents on the history of the labour movement in Germany.
Friedrich Ebert (1871-1925)
Friedrich Ebert served from 1919 to 1925 as the first President of the Weimar Republic. He advocated the development of parliamentary democracy, viewed himself as the president of all Germans, and was committed to a politics geared to social balance and compromise. In his will, he specified that the proceeds from donations at his funeral should be used to create a foundation. The main concern of FES from then on was to work against discrimination of workers in the area of education.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Bonn
Godesberger Allee 149
D-53175 Bonn
Events
Online-Podiumsdiskussion "Wo endet die Kunstfreiheit?"
Im Sinne demokratischer Grundordnungen gewährleisten Japan und Deutschland das Recht, sich in der Form von Sprache und Kunst frei zu äußern. Was aber... More
Die Rolle Japans und Deutschlands in einer neuen Weltordnung: Herausforderungen und Chancen bilateraler Zusammenarbeit
Während des Besuches von Herrn Dr. Rolf Mützenich und Herrn Michael Müller, Mitglieder des Deutschen Bundestages, wurden Japans Außen- und... More
The 20th Historical Perception and East Asia Peace Forum in Tokyo
Noch immer streiten Regierungen ostasiatischer Länder um die „richtige“ Interpretation der Kriegsvergangenheit und der Geschichte von... More
Latest Publications
Study "Social Innovation Policy for Industry 4.0"
The concept of “Industry 4.0” outlines the vision of a smart factory, which is characterised by the complete networking of all production parts and... More
Interview "Security by the back door"
Japanese MP Shoichi Kondo discusses a controversial anti-terror law that critics say weakens civil liberties. More
対談 "Security by the back door"
人権侵害と批判されている「テロ等準備罪」法について、近藤昭一衆議院議員がインタビューに答えました。 More